Local Charlotte Mom Almost Dies After Medical Tourism Disaster

Medical tourism has become increasingly popular in the United States. Men and women of all ages are now looking at regions outside of the United States where surgery and medical procedures are performed for a fraction of the price. Everything from dental work and hair transplants to more invasive surgeries such as breast augmentations, liposuction, and tummy tucks are performed. Now, it isn’t to say it is impossible to find quality medical services in other countries in the world. However, most medical tourism takes place in third-world countries. Mexico, Thailand, India, the Dominican Republic, and portions of Eastern Europe are all common destinations for medical tourism. While there’s nothing wrong with looking around for ways to save money, it is important to understand the underlying risks and dangers of medical tourism.

Those patients taking the risks associated with medical tourism is a close-to-home reality for Charlotte Plastic Surgery. Watch the FOX46 interview with Dr. Nyame discusses the countless life-saving procedures he performed on one local Charlotte mom who now lives to tell her story and warn others of the risks involved with opting for medical tourism.

What Makes It More Affordable?

The desire of medical tourism is to travel to a less expensive destination, receive a medical service, and, in the case of locations such as Thailand and Mexico, to relax on the beach while recovering before flying back home. But what makes the medical services more affordable?

There are a handful of reasons. First, the cost of living and wages in these countries is substantially lower, so the price of a doctor goes down with it. Medical insurance for these doctors is also less, as doctors in the United States need to carry with them more forms of insurance coverage. Both of these variables are reflected in the cost of medical services provided in the second and third world countries.

Where the Dangers of Medical Tourism Come From

However, there are other elements at play regarding medical services in these countries. These are the elements that can make medical tourism truly dangerous. First, many of these nations do not have the same strict standards of drugs, medications, and implants as what you find in Western Europe and the United States. Due to this, medical teams in Mexico can use medications that are not always approved in the U.S. Depending on the medical facility these drugs may be past expiration dates as well. This can cause serious side effects during the procedure. When you go to a medical practitioner in the United States for a tummy tuck or Brachioplasty there is a complete medical background taken. This isn’t just based on the information you give but on the documented history your doctor will obtain. This is information a third world country doctor will not have access to. Now, these doctors will almost never meaningfully put you in harm’s way, but they simply do not have access to the same kind of medical history. Due to this, if you are allergic to certain medications or materials, you may not realize there is a problem until after the surgery, where your body begins to reject the implant.

In other instances, the clinic is not as well maintained. When performing invasive surgeries such as a tummy tuck, it is important to work in a completely sterile environment. If bacteria is able to enter your body it can cause all kinds of problems as it infects your body from the inside. In the United States, there are specific requirements all clinics and hospitals must follow. These rules and laws are different in locations where medical tourism is popular.

In the United States, a doctor will specialize in plastic surgery, liposuction, breast augmentations, and other surgeries. They will specifically study this in medical school, work through a residency, obtain their license and receive board certifications to perform the specific surgeries. In other countries, this is not always the case. While each country is different, medical costs for medical tourism are often down because the doctors did not need to go through extensive medical training.

So you need to ask yourself if you really want to work with someone with less skill and training when it comes to breast implants, hair transplants, or tummy tucks? A bad breast implant can end up costing more to repair and improve the form than it would have originally cost if you had just had the implant performed in the United States in the first place.

When researching destinations for possible medical tourism you will often find the medical background of the primary doctor is not listed, or it is generic and does not provide much in the way of insights. You’ll also often find the before and after photographs are not all that impressive. These clinics survive based on international dollars coming in from locations like Western Europe and the United States. Due to this, the clinics will only show the best of the best. Even so, if these photographs are less than desirable it is a definitive sign that the medical clinic in the third world country is not providing the highest level of service or skill.

Is Medical Tourism Worth The Risk?

Yes, there are individuals out there who are happy with the medical tourism experience. However, there are others who were put into harm’s way, were forced to undergo life-saving surgery to correct issues with the tourism surgery, or who simply received inferior services from doctors who are not skilled in their craft. So, while you might be able to save a few dollars, you need to ask yourself is it really worth the risk?

To find out more about the plastic surgery services available in the United States, contact Charlotte Plastic Surgery at your earliest convenience.